NULL dereference in Linux kernel workqueue chained work check
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel workqueue code can dereference a NULL current_pwq pointer in its chained work check. A kworker that is not executing a work item can reach this check while work is queued on a draining or destroying workqueue, which causes a fault before the intended warning is emitted. The fix makes the check return false when current_pwq is NULL.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: workqueue: Fix NULL current_pwq deref in chained work check current_wq_worker() only tells us that %current is a kworker. It does not guarantee that the worker is currently executing a work item, as worker->current_pwq is populated only while process_one_work() is running the work function. is_chained_work() can be reached while queueing on a draining or destroying workqueue. If a kworker outside work-item execution reaches that path, current_wq_worker() returns a worker but worker->current_pwq is NULL, and the chained-work test can fault before it emits the intended warning. Guard the chained-work test with worker->current_pwq. A kworker without current_pwq is not executing work on the target workqueue, so the helper should return false and let the draining/destroying warning fire.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11 or 7.3. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 has no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 have no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-23 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-99058
- 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-vhm2-x82m-jxjm
- 2026-10-27 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-27 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@54361e4924c2c52a501b74ef10217c32f45fccfa +3 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 3 new references · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/73bec442f913855907b63225306dd162c18e5c71
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6877de2c75f0dd342099a1357856e6c8d474abc3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/54361e4924c2c52a501b74ef10217c32f45fccfa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3dc61af2998cfc7312d6e59bbdcd5eed074483f2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/729d576df89c7e4341e58c452f8890620a610ac2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b12a25fb2b9d5dac80e419d695450cc17a51fdfd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a2668682e998039a027796b236319b380078a6a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/980db94e3eeefdd8a1c46f86412c33a7f7806f51
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Sources
- CVE-2026-99058 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-99058 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vhm2-x82m-jxjm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-99058 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences